Pai Kin Kao Thai Restaurant

I stopped by this Thai restaurant in Cambridge, MA for a quick dinner. The ambiance was fairly standard—nothing particularly memorable. I ordered the red curry chicken with rice, and the food arrived impressively fast. The portion size was just right, and the curry was served piping hot—exactly how I like it. That said, the curry sauce lacked richness. It was a bit too watery, and it seemed light on coconut milk, which left it feeling thin rather than full-bodied. Flavor-wise, it was decent, but didn’t quite hit the mark. One downside was the the way green beans were cooked in the curry. There were plenty, but they were undercooked and overly crunchy, which threw off the texture of the dish. That detail alone kept this meal from earning five stars. On a brighter note, the service was excellent—attentive and friendly throughout.

I ordered takeout for the first time The food tasted great but my beef curry was very light Pictured you can see the beef curry I ordered. The beef curry part of the meal was a pretty small portion and I was disappointed as it tasted fantastic. I probably won't be ordering takeout in the future but I may try dining in to see if portions are better

so it was not that good. i got the pad see ew and it was not very flavorful. noodles were very oily? the thai iced tea was good.

This restaurant appears to be an extension of a home, which is pretty cool. There's limited seating but it wasn't crowded when we stopped by for lunch on Sunday. I ordered the Pad See Ew with a medium level of spice and it was pretty solid! I've tried a handful of thai restaurants in boston is this is one of the better ones I've had. Would recommend!

I took a friend and colleague here for lunch yesterday we had a working meeting here. Amazing Food, Amazing Service, Casual Setting. Genuinely the Best Panang Curry I have had in the state. If I still lived in Cambridge I would be here for lunch twice a week. Cant believe it wasn't packed, Cant wait to be back! To the Team and Owners, Keep doing what you're doing Wishing you every Success!

I had the pleasure of dining at Pai Kin Kao Thai Restaurant and tried the Tonkatsu Ramen, Thai Dry Noodle, and Kao Moo Daeng. The Tonkatsu Ramen was rich and flavorful, with a yummy broth. The Thai Dry Noodle was a standout – expertly seasoned and packed with authentic Thai flavors. The Kao Moo Daeng was another highlight, featuring perfectly cooked pork and a deliciously savory sauce. Overall, the dishes were well-prepared, and the presentation was fantastic. Highly recommend this place for a taste of Thai cuisine with a variety of options!

“The Best Thai Food in the Area!” We highly recommend their Khao Moo Dang (red pork with rice), Guay Tiew Haeng (dry noodles), and even their Tonkotsu Ramen! The dishes are flavorful, perfectly prepared, and offer a delightful mix of Thai and Japanese influences. The staff are incredibly nice and attentive, adding to the overall great dining experience. If you’re in the area, don’t miss out on this gem!

Went for a quick bite today and they offered the yummiest Moo Dang!! I am going back for more! The food is well prepared, and the turn around time is so fast! The staff is so polite and sweet and the food hits the taste buds just right. Affordable and so worth your time.

Had a great dinner here on a Friday night! Delicious, well-portioned Thai food with fast service and family restaurant style vibes. The scallion pancakes are a must-get, if you like your scallion pancakes crispy but doughy and with a sweet dipping sauce. The larb is flavorful and done well, but make sure to specify low spicyness if you are bad at handling spicyness, as my mouth was on fire halfway through my meal. If you really like spicy food, you'll love this dish. My dining companion got the Guay Tiew Hang street food dish, and it was delicious sweet noodles with greens and several kinds of pork: sausage, ground, and roasted slices. A great alternative to try if you like other thai noodle dishes! Overall, would come back to try more dishes! Great value for great portion sizes and friendly, speedy service.

Stumbled upon this cozy Thai spot in Cambridge's Central Square! The interior is super intimate and it was empty when we got there but filled up! Definitely gives mom and pop vibes and I liked that it wasn't crazy inside. For food, we ordered papaya salad, tom yum soup, and khao soi. The papaya salad was fresh but the sauce was a little too acidic. The sauce also ended up gathering on the bottom a little too much but was great to cut through the thick noodle soups. The tom yum soup was super flavorful and I loved the broth. Unfortunately the noodles got soggy really quickly but all the fillings made up for it. It came with dumplings, pork, ground pork, egg, and more! The khao soi was very creamy but also full of flavor. I liked the thickness of the egg noodles but my friend was a little unsettled by the richness of color. If you're looking for a quick, local spot for Thai, this is a great place to go!

Friendly neighborhood Thai eatery - always appreciate the welcoming staff here. I'd love to give PKK more stars because of its convenient location, various offerings, and friendly employees. However I have to admit the flavors are not to my personal preference. Overall, it's much greater than other Thai options in the area, but everything seemed a little underseasoned or lackluster. It's still a solid option if you are in a pinch, and by no means will you regret giving it a try! It's a cozy casual corner restaurant that usually doesn't get too crowded for dinner, and the food is well portioned and comes out quickly. I'd recommend coming here if you're in the area and short on time for dinner, but it's certainly not a must-try in the Cambridge area.

i always used to walk past this restaurant and decided to give it a try and i've been here twice. from both visits, i would say that the appetizers were mid. i've tried the fried pork gyoza, crab rangoons, and the chicken karaage. they were on the greasier side and tasted okay. however, i enjoyed the main dishes! i've tried the green curry fried rice, the yellow curry w/ crispy chicken, and pad thai. all of these dishes were super flavorful and yummy. my favorite was the green curry fried rice w/ tofu and i would recommend it if you like spicy food. the serving size is on the larger side, so perfect for sharing. for most of the dishes, you get a choice of protein. during my second visit, i got crispy chicken w/ the green curry fried rice and i was a bit disappointed. the chicken wasn't crispy and the skin was sliding of the meat. i don't remember that being my experience during my first visit, so there seems to be some inconsistencies w/ that. the green curry fried rice tastes amazing w/ tofu so i recommend that over the crispy chicken. overall, Pin Kin Kao wouldn't be my first choice when i'm craving thai food, but i wouldn't shy you away from trying it out if you are ever in the central area.

I've eaten here before and the food tastes good but this takeaway food portion is absolutely unacceptable

This has become a go to lunch place for us Love the food and gets very spice just like I like it

Delicious and easy lunch!! I loveddd my pad see ew and I think the large plate was the perfect amount to stuff myself with. I'd recommend a small plate if you're at a normal hunger level though. I took pictures of my colleagues' meals and they also looked sooo good, we all enjoyed this restaurant and would come again!

Ordered the Ba Meehaang Mooo Dang - Bean sprouts lightly boiled is still somewhat crispy, char see is bit lean, light marinated flavor, shrimp wonrton piping hot, half boiled egg ("little slimy, probably been out all day), fishballs small and flavorless, noodles el dente and sauce is sweet and spicy. Service is fine, only person there dining at the time. Ambiance feels a bit hole in the wallish. Street parking only with paid meter spaces. Overall, probably would try the regular pad thai dish next time to give another chance.

Honestly decent. Probably somewhere around 3.7 stars but what's the difference, right? Got the Pad Kra Pow with crispy chicken to go. It was a decent sized meal, maybe a little small for the price, but enough. Could've used a little more rice on the side but that's just me. The flavor was very tasty, and that's where the majority of points should go, right? Well good because something's were (literally) falling apart. It seemed the batter on the crispy chicken had sloughed off in the bath of delicious sauce, and became its own entity. This was unfortunate, because it took away all the crisp, but somehow it worked. The batter bits absorbed sauce from the dish and it actually brought things up. This was a good example of not everything has to be perfect to be great! Could I have gotten upset at my no-longer-crispy-chicken? Sure. But hey, it's 2024, why not look on the bright side?

The service was really nice, and I liked that the menu had more options than many other Thai restaurants in the area, but we found the food to be just ok and quite sweet. I visited with friends for lunch, and we ordered several items. In general, the curries ($13.95 for small) were very sweet, as was the sauce on the crispy pork belly with spicy basil ($15.95 for large). The somtum salted crab salad ($11) was also pretty sweet (I wish there were less sugar and more acid), and my friend who had the curry fried rice ($15.95) said he also found his dish to be average.

The fried squid tentacles were amazing, super crunchy, flavorful and fresh. I ordered the pad see ew which I thought was a bit low on sauce and depth of flavor, which led me to add fish sauce and hot sauce. I finished it and enjoyed it cause I was so hungry but it's not a dish that I dream of ordering again. Nice staff though, and fast service.

I've been meaning to try this as I've passed it a ton in my time near Central and while I don't know if I would come back, it was an overall nice meal! We came here in a Saturday evening for an early dinner and we were the only ones seated in the space. It's relatively small and left for a quaint, homey experience overall. Our server was nice and patient with taking our order which was greatly appreciated as the menu was pretty extensive; tons of great options! We got a bubble tea as well to try, but honestly it wasn't great. The bubbles stuck together at the bottom of the cup which made it difficult to drink, especially as the meal continued. The food itself was pretty tasty, but the price was a little on the more expensive side I think when taking portion into account. It all was good though and I'm glad I got a dish with pork belly. The curry was yummy as well. I think it's a solid spot for Thai food for the area and the service was pretty nice as well!

The pad Thai is really good. I keep ordering the pork but I'm pretty sure they give me chicken but I'm not even mad about it. The meat isn't important at all it's all about the other ingredients.

hole in the wall We stopped by here after playing some spikeball in hoyt field and was pleasantly surprised. As you walk in, it really feels like a hole in the wall thai place. I felt adventurous so I went for guay tio haang (thai street noodles) and it was absolutely delicious. It was super authentic tasting with roasted pork and chinese broccoli, both of which I absolutely adore. It also had a nice healthy kick and the noodles were perfectly cooked and not soggy at all. My friends got some other noodle dishes which were good as well. Although a bit on the pricier side, the portions were large and the taste is not your typical americanized takeout so in my opinion it is justified. overall, did not expect to walk into this kind of place and happy I did. will be coming back.

Visited for the administrative connection to Mad Monkfish (another Cambridge staple), and the vast reviews regarding the Sweet and Hot Chili Wings. Includes a vast mix of dishes and all set the bar in terms of thai. Staff was very kind and approachable, when I visited the dining area was sparse but cozy. Also recommend: Fried Squid Habanero Mango Chicken Wings Thai Fried Rice Ramen Noodles

This is my favorite place for Thai food in the entire Boston area! The staff is absolutely lovely and the food is phenomenal. The pad see ew is my favorite - it is just absolutely delicious and packed with so much flavor. The papaya salad is also amazing and I've never had a bad experience here. Highly recommend making a stop!

I placed an online order for pickup through Pai Kin Kai's website. After returning home from picking up the order, I discovered that one of my items was missing. I called the restaurant, and they were not willing to resolve the issue by delivering the missing item or refunding the cost of the item. They took no accountability for the mistake and told me to contact Grubhub support. I did not use the Grubhub website to place the order, and there was no indication that Grubhub was involved with their online ordering system on their website or in the confirmation email I received. It took nearly an hour to resolve the issue with Grubhub support. This restaurant doesn't seem to care about their takeout customers.

I'm really glad that I got to try this place. The flavors are bold and do not seem toned down to cater toward American tastes. Drunken noodles that are ACTUALLY spicy! Boat noodle soup with an extremely rich broth! A lot of their dishes (noodles, curry, etc.) are $10, with a few that are over $10. The portion size was appropriate. Not too big, but also not small. However if you have a big appetite then the portion might not be big enough for you. The drunken noodles had quite the kick to them! The dish was packed with lots of meat and had a good balance between meat, veggies, and noodles. I wasn't the biggest fan of the pork in the boat noodles, since it was somewhat dry and plain, but the broth itself was super flavorful. It had a flavor profile that I've never had before, but I can confidently say that I am a big fan. The noodles came in a separate container with a lot of bean sprouts and scallions. They give you the option of choosing between beef or pork for the boat noodles, so next time I will try the beef. Looking forward to exploring the other Thai dishes on their menu.

This is a great little place for lunch. My favorite dish of theirs is the khao soi. Service is also relatively quick. Only downside to keep in mind is be aware that seating in this place is very small and you'll need to sit at relatively small tables, as it has a "hole-in-the-wall" type feel. But every time I've went, I've not had to wait for a table nor felt uncomfortable.

We ordered delivery, they said it would be delivered in 45 minutes, an hour later we call them and they said the food was sitting still sitting at the restaurant. We drove it pick it up, we asked them to reheat it for us, they begrudgingly agreed. When we got home we found large chunks of gray clay in the pad see yew, making it inedible. We have ordered from here for several years, but will never be ordering again unfortunately.

The service was quick & friendly! I felt very welcomed. The inside of the restaurant was small, quiet, & very cozy. I went when it was snowing outside so being able to see that with their giant windows was very nice. I ordered Wonton Noodle Soup & my friend got Thai Fried Rice. We both enjoyed our meals very much, it was more delicious than we thought it would be. I loved every ingredient in my soup. The wontons were delightful. We were both stuffed after our meals & happily went the rest of the day full :) We already made plans on coming back, I look forward to it!

Food was excellent. Loved it. Can't wait to get a chance to go back. Great place I highly recommend it

More of a hole in the wall restaurant selling a mixture of Thai and Japanese dishes. It seemed that most of their business is takeout which is what I did. I ordered the Pad See Yew which was freshly prepare after ordering. The food was good though comparable to other nearby Thai restaurants.

Living very close to PKK, I've eaten here often. Most things are middle of the road ok. A few Thai dishes and comments: beef stew massaman curry -- you had me at "grandma recipe". This is an excellent dish. pad see ew -- pretty good. khao soi -- meh. chicken noodle soup -- good for when you're sick. bland/mild. Good value, quick service. You can order online via ToastTab.

Excellent restaurant. It is small and quant, but has good quality thai food. The service was fast and the server was handsome and friendly. I ordered the basil fried rice which was very spicy and delicious. Definitely going to become my goto fried rice in the area! Also ordered the fried chive dumplings which were pleasant with a nice crisp and chewy texture. Pretty delicious simple thai cuisine.

Just okay. I came in and ordered takeout - tofu pad Thai and the mango habanero wings. The guy who took my order was nice and I got my food within ten minutes. The tofu listed on the menu said sou-miso marinated tofu. Unfortunately the tofu wasn't as marinated or fried as I would have liked, and the noodle portion was a little small for it being $11. However, the pad Thai was on the more authentic side and I was pleasantly surprised they used pickled sweet radish that isn't normally found at Thai places here. The wings were just a flat out disappointment. I got the bone in and they were battered before being fried and then tossed in the sauce. The batter was very soggy and didn't hold up to the sauce, and I felt like these tasted as if they were day old and then reheated. Sauce was also very bland and didn't have that sweet or spicy kick. I know they started offering sushi and ramen so maybe those might be better options if you happen to stop by.

Absolutely incredible Thai food in a no nonsense neighborhood spot. The Boat Noodles, Tom Yum soup and the wings are my favorites, but I've never eaten anything here that wasn't outstanding. The people are friendly, service is great, a real blessing for the neighborhood.

This small spot has great neighborhood vibes, and when a craving for Thai hit in central square, I was excited to try it out. The prices are great (~$10 for any main) and service was friendly and super speedy! I ordered the pork kaprow, which had delicious flavors, I only wish there was more meat. For the price, it's hard to complain, but I would warn other diners to expect moderate portions and maybe order a starter or salad if you come super hungry. The vibes are super casual so this wouldn't be my first pick for date night, but for a quick, super tasty meal, I will definitely be back! The soups that others around me ordered looked great

This was a surprising slice of heaven. When you walk in, this place seems a little divey, but the people there were super nice and accommodating, and the food was great! We went here the night before the marathon so my SO had a super strict food plan (he was racing, GO BRUCE!). We had already tried 3 other restaurants that couldn't or weren't willing to make him rice and chicken. Basically, he just wanted white rice and steamed or grilled chicken with no sauce or anything... You would think that wouldn't be that hard to do at an Asian restaurant, but the other 2 we went to weren't having it. After explaining what we were looking for, and checking with the cook, our waitress was a little confused, but more than happy to work around the request. Bruce got exactly what he asked for and they only charged us $5 !!! I got the curry soup. It was really good too, and a HUGE serving.

The food was delicious!!! We had one order of steamed pork gyoza that was sooo good, we had to order another. For our entrees, I had Khao Soi ( noodle soup) that was so rich in flavor. My daughter had Guay Tio Haang (Street noodles). It was rich in different texture and very flavorful! The service was very pleasant as well. It's hall in the wall type of place and we it.

I've ordered the Chicken kaprow w/fried egg for take-out two times now, and the quality is excellent. Service: It's been prepared quickly and the staff is friendly. Food: I can't speak for other dishes, but the Chicken kaprow is excellent. The spicy sauce is *actually* spicy while still being flavorful, the veggies are cooked but not overdone, so that they still have a bit of snap to them, the chicken is juicy, and the fried eggs have been perfectly runny inside. (I have NEVER been able to find a place that cooks a better fried egg than this place. These are perfection.) As others have mentioned, the price point is a bit high, but it's a wonderful place to treat yourself to a nice lunch once and a while!

My husband and I visited Pai Kin Kao for a Sunday lunch, and it was a fairly good experience, but it won't become one of our favorites. The best part about the restaurant is the extremely friendly staff. We were served very quickly, and the waitress also noticed when I was adding extra chili oil to my food and brought over additional spices to try. In terms of the food though, it was really just ok. I had the massaman curry with tofu, and it was fine, but I'd put the spice level at a zero. In addition to the typical dishes you'd expect to see at a Thai restaurant, they also have some unique menu items, so this could potentially be an advantage if you're looking for a lot of menu choices. My husband, however, decided to try the green curry ramen out of curiosity and found it very strange. Overall, we weren't impressed enough to plan a return visit, but our experience was ok and we would potentially try it again if we're already walking by.

While I was super disappointed when Frozen Yogi (an Indian Pizza place) closed. This place is a good addition to the Cambridgeport area. My boyfriend and I started with the chicken wings. Very good. The chicken was cooked just right and the sauce was delicious. For main course I tried the spicy miso ramen. Great spice and the pork was very juicy. For a non ramen joint I thought they did a great job. Note: ramen is one of my favorite foods. My boyfriend had the Pad se Ew and liked it too. Our only complaint with this place is the price to quantity of food is high, as others mentioned. But if you aren't starving and want ramen close by this is a great stop.

For whoever comes Chick Chick Boom for the first time, it is an Thai restaurant that makes wings. My experience there was pretty average. Their food has good flavor, but the portion is so small that it was neither filling nor satisfying. I have attached my order below for reference. $12 for jasamine rice combo, with rice being majority of the dish and only 3 small pieces of chicken tender as side. And for that entire evening after dinner there was an empty stomach feeling kept haunting me..

I have a new favorite Thai restaurant. I love that this place is slightly off the main strip, and has a cozy feel. The food was phenomenal. I got the Khao Soi (Northeastern Thai Curry Noodle Soup), which was my first time having it and my expectations were blown away. It was flavorful and dynamic and filling, all while being comforting. My friend ordered the Yellow Curry with tofu and vegetables, which was also delicious! Very light and refreshing. The staff was helpful and warm, and the overall atmosphere was very nice. I will definitely be back.

Great super casual small jointt. Tasty flavors. Superb fried rice with fresh veggies., ramen is killer, papaya salad lightt and beautiful mix of veggies and nuts, tom ka gai - wow!! What a local gem!

This place was excellent! We had pad see ew, Panang curry, and Thai fried rice. Everything was top notch! Not the hugest servings in the world, and we ordered three sweet dishes which was overload but that was on us. I will eat here regularly! So so good!

This place is delicious! I've tried most of the wing flavors on the menu and have enjoyed all of them, except for tebasaki and honey miso (which was a little funky for me). The variety on the menu also makes very helpful when you're coming in a group -- I tend to prefer the noodles (especially the pad see ew) over the rice. The pad thai has the thinner noodles and a copious amount of bean sprouts (#crunch), which is great. The food is cooked speedily so you get it within 10 minutes of ordering (whether sit down or takeaway), and everyone is really nice.

Sincerely the best and most authentic Thai food I have ever had. Unlike most Thai places the portions are not too overwhelming and just right for a meal. The dishes are budding with spices and flavor and blow your average Americanized Thai restaurant out of the water. The beef stew Massaman curry is one of the most delicious dishes I have ever had, that would be my first recommendation!!!! This food always puts me in a good mood and ever fails to disappoint.

Quality Thai dishes at great prices. I highly recommend the Tom Yum Goong, Pad See Ew and BBQ Red Pork on Rice. I'd skip the sushi offerings. Seems like a family run place and I've only had positive experiences here.

Knowing that I was going to be dancing nearly naked in a onesie right after, I didn't want to get too stuffed and for once, stopped being a size queen. Chick Chick was sort of out of the way from the main Mass Ave area, and when I was there it was empty, maybe this is a more daytime place. I got a pad thai and the whole thing was sort of depressing. I ate fast and left fast.

This is my go-to Thai restaurant! I've tried a few things (green curry, red curry, panang curry, pad thai, khao soi, green curry ramen, tom yum soup, and gyoza) and I can honestly say, it's some of the most authentic tasting Thai food i've had outside of Thailand. The staff are unbelievably friendly, the service is quick, and the food is delicious! I take all of my friends here and no one has ever had anything bad to say about their meals. I wish I took photos of my food, but I always dig in so quickly because it looks SO GOOD.

Chick chick boom is a fantastic addition to the Cambridgeport area. Everytime I've come in, most of the seats are empty and people are usually coming here for takeout. Somewhat old looking decor, but the food is pretty solid. The fried chicken is good not great. Definitely somewhat dry on the inside and lacks the outside crunch and texture of typical fried chicken, but the batter is flavorful. Although the wings aren't as good as bonchon chicken, chick chick booms chicken is still good and doesn't make me feel like a slob after I'm done. Most likely this is because I don't think its double fried like korean fried chicken. Don't know the calorie count but I'm assuming its healthier so that's definitely a plus for me. I've tried their fried rice, pad thai, and drunken noodles. Fried rice is wetter than regular fried rice, but don't let that description fool you, its still very flavorful and the texture doesn't lessen the dish at all. Above average fried rice. Pad thai is less sweet than at most other places, which I love. I used to work at a thai restaurant and its terrifying how much sugar goes into this dish typically. My favorite pad thai in Boston. Drunken noodles has a stronger basil flavor than what I'm used to, which isn't bad but doesn't do much for me either. Pretty standard drunken noodles. I've always felt that thai food tastes nearly the same everywhere, so its hard to make stand out. Chick Chick Boom is a tad above average in taste for their dishes, but because I never feel like going into a food coma after eating here, this is very unique in a thai restaurant so they deserve a push up in ratings.

Phenomenal spot to go to! Had hand sanitizer on the table, the waiter was incredibly friendly, and all of the food was freshly made. Highly recommend the boat noodles!

AMAZING Thai food. does not disappoint. we got the crab and spinach Rangoon and it was so so good. we also got the drunken noodles and panang curry. the curry was the best I have ever tasted and the noodles had so much flavor. not to mention the store owners were such nice people. definitley recommend!!!

I had the pad thai with tofu and it was delicious. In fact, it was probably one of the best pad thais I've ever had, and that's saying something because I love pad thai. The sweet and salty flavors were well balanced with a hint of smokiness from the grill. I thought it was delicious. But for $11, I was expecting the portion to be a bit bigger. My friends who ordered their ramen, said the noodles were disappointing. In fact, they wouldn't order it again. The portions were small. The flavor was just okay. The meat was okay. Everything about it was just underwhelming for the price ($14). You could get a huge flavorful bowl of ramen noodles from Yume Wo Katare for $13 in comparison.

This review is only for the curry favor. I am sure all other reviews are true. The curry soup is just like sugar soup. Curry taste is just a little sweet but very natural. This one is really sweet and a complete turn off. The meat that I chose was not great either. Although River st looks safe during the day, I left the area before dark... don't take a chance buddy! I like Central square, if you like ramen, go to S. CA Cosa Mesa, you will find the best ramen at $ 9.50!

One of the best Thai spots in the area! I've had the Red Curry, Panang Curry, Pad Krow, and Drunken Noodles for take-out and have never been disappointed. Also highly recommend the Thai tea!!

Though I'm sitting at this restaurant now, Pai Kin Kai has become my favorite carry-out source. Every single thing I have had here is Bangkok quality, that is from the local, small cafés there. I look forward to ordering the large sushi boat for a family feast.